Have the 49ers Improved Their Defensive Line?

Armstead and Young both got big money from other teams, while the 49ers' additions were relatively cost effective. But were they upgrades?

The main thing the 49ers did this offseason was revamp their defensive line, but did they improve it?

First, they got rid of Arik Armstead, Javon Kinlaw, Chase Young, Randy Gregory and Clelin Ferrell. Then they added Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott, Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos.

Armstead and Young both got big money from other teams, while the 49ers' additions were relatively cost effective. But were they upgrades?

Other than Nick Bosa, the 49ers defensive ends last season were attrocious and didn't fit the Wide 9 scheme. Young and Gregory couldn't stop the run, and Ferrell was a complete zero as a pass rusher. The 49ers should have simply re-signed Charles Omenihu in 2023, but they let him walk and tried unsuccessfully to replace him.

Floyd and Gross-Matos are big upgrades over the defensive ends the 49ers had last season. Floyd will give the 49ers to disguise their pressures because he can drop into coverage, and Gross-Matos has the ability to rush the quarterback from the interior of the defensive line on third downs, which gives the 49ers' defensive line options.

At defensive tackle, Armstead and Kinlaw both are former first-round picks with tons of talent, but both also have serious chronic injuries -- Kinlaw has a knee issue and Armstead has plantar fasciitis. Their replacements -- Maliek Collins and Jordan Elliott -- do NOT have chronic injuries. Which means they'll be better than Armstead and Kinlaw when those two are injured, which is most of the time.

So yes, the 49ers did improve their defensive line this offseason.